IP Library Granted Patent US 10,364,653
Granted Patent B2
US 10,364,653 · App. 15/337,532 · Granted Jul 30, 2019

Actuation tool having a non-ballistic force generating mechanism

Inventors: YingQing Xu (Tomball, TX); Zhiyue Xu (Cypress, TX); Zhihui Zhang (Katy, TX); Lei Zhao (Houston, TX)
Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
E21B41/00E21B4/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,364,653
App. No.
15/337,532
Granted
Jul 30, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A non-ballistic force generating mechanism includes a non-ballistic first actuator operable to output a first force profile defining a first pressure for a first stroke length, and a non-ballistic second actuator operable to output a second force profile following the first force profile, the second force profile defining an second pressure that is substantially greater than the first pressure for a second stroke length that is less than the first stroke length.

Claims (37)

1. A non-ballistic force generating mechanism for a downhole device comprising: a non-ballistic first actuator operable to output a first force profile defining a first pressure for a first stroke length, the non-ballistic first actuator comprising an electromagnetic launcher having a stator and an armature moveable relative to the stator, the armature selectively generates the first force profile; and a non-ballistic second actuator operable to output a second force profile following the first force profile, the second force profile defining a second pressure that is substantially greater than the first pressure for a second stroke length that is less than the first stroke length.

2. The non-ballistic force generating mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the non-ballistic second actuator includes a thermally responsive expandable material that selectively generates the second force profile.

3. The non-ballistic force generating mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein the thermally responsive expandable material comprises expandable graphite.

4. The non-ballistic force generating mechanism according to claim 3 , wherein the expandable graphite includes an activation material.

5. The non-ballistic force generating mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein the thermally responsive expandable material comprises a supercritical fluid.

6. The non-ballistic force generating mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein the non-ballistic second actuator includes a polymer having linear coefficient of thermal expansion of between about 50×10^-6K-1 to about 100×10^-6K-1 that selectively generates the second force profile.

7. The non-ballistic force generating mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the non-ballistic first actuator and the non-ballistic second actuator are responsive to hydrostatic pressure to generate corresponding ones of the first force profile and the second force profile.

8. The non-ballistic force generating mechanism according to claim 1 , further comprising: a pump portion operable to generate a desired pressure to output at least one of the first force profile and the second force profile.

9. A non-ballistic force generating mechanism for a downhole device comprising: a non-ballistic first actuator operable to output a first force profile defining a first pressure for a first stroke length, the non-ballistic first actuator including a non-ballistic reactive material comprising at least one of an active metal and a decomposable metal that selectively generates the first force profile; and a non-ballistic second actuator operable to output a second force profile following the first force profile, the second force profile defining a second pressure that is substantially greater than the first pressure for a second stroke length that is less than the first stroke length the non-ballistic first actuator includes a non-ballistic reactive material that selectively generates the first force profile.

10. The non-ballistic force generating mechanism according to claim 9 , wherein the non-ballistic first actuator includes a chamber including a first portion housing the non-ballistic reactive material and a second portion housing an activation driver that is selectively introduced into the first portion to generate the first force profile.

11. A resource exploration and recovery system comprising:

a surface system;

a downhole system including a plurality of tubulars and at least one actuatable device; and

an actuation tool having a non-ballistic force generating mechanism extending through one or more of the plurality of tubulars toward the at least one actuatable device, the non-ballistic force generating mechanism comprising:

a non-ballistic first actuator operable to output a first force profile to the at least one actuatable device, the first force profile defining a first pressure for a first stroke length, the non-ballistic first actuator comprising an electromagnetic launcher having a stator and an armature moveable relative to the stator, the armature selectively generates the first force profile; and

a non-ballistic second actuator operable to output a second force profile to the at least one actuatable device following the first force profile, the second force profile defining a second pressure that is substantially greater than the first pressure for a second stroke length that is less than the first stroke length.

12. The resource exploration and recovery system according to claim 11 , wherein the non-ballistic second actuator includes a thermally responsive expandable material that selectively generates the second force profile.

13. The resource exploration and recovery system according to claim 12 , wherein the thermally responsive expandable material comprises expandable graphite.

14. The resource exploration and recovery system according to claim 12 , wherein the thermally responsive expandable material comprises a supercritical fluid.

15. A resource exploration and recovery system comprising:

a surface system;

a downhole system including a plurality of tubulars and at least one actuatable device; and

an actuation tool having a non-ballistic force generating mechanism extending through one or more of the plurality of tubulars toward the at least one actuatable device, the non-ballistic force generating mechanism comprising:

a non-ballistic first actuator operable to output a first force profile to the at least one actuatable device, the first force profile defining a first pressure for a first stroke length, the non-ballistic first actuator includes a non-ballistic reactive material comprising at least one of an active metal and a decomposable metal that selectively generates the first force profile; and

a non-ballistic second actuator operable to output a second force profile to the at least one actuatable device following the first force profile, the second force profile defining a second pressure that is substantially greater than the first pressure for a second stroke length that is less than the first stroke length.

16. The resource exploration and recovery system according to claim 15 , wherein the non-ballistic first actuator includes a chamber including a first portion housing the non-ballistic reactive material and a second portion housing a activation driver that is selectively introduced into the first portion to generate the first force profile.

17. A method of actuating a downhole device comprising:

activating a non-ballistic first actuator to deliver a first activation pressure having a first force defined by a first force profile to the downhole device by delivering electrical energy to an electromagnetic launcher that delivers the first activation pressure to the downhole device; and

activating a non-ballistic second actuator to deliver a second activation pressure having a second force profile including a second force, that is substantially greater than the first force, to the downhole device.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein activating the non-ballistic second actuator includes energizing a thermally responsive expandable material that selectively generates the second force profile.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein activating the non-ballistic second actuator includes energizing a supercritical fluid.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein activating the non-ballistic second actuator includes exposing a chamber to hydrostatic pressure.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein activating the non-ballistic first actuator includes operating a pump to generate a pressurized fluid to deliver the first activation pressure.

22. A method of actuating a downhole device comprising:

activating a non-ballistic first actuator to deliver a first activation pressure having a first force defined by a first force profile to the downhole device by energizing a non-ballistic reactive material comprising at least one of an active metal and a decomposable metal that selectively generates the first force profile; and

activating a non-ballistic second actuator to deliver a second activation pressure having a second force profile including a second force, that is substantially greater than the first force, to the downhole device.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein energizing the non-ballistic reactive material includes introducing a liquid to the non-ballistic reactive material.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 29, 2022
From: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
To: BAKER HUGHES HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 059824/0234 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 24, 2022
From: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
To: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 059695/0930 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2016
From: XU, YINGQING; XU, ZHIYUE; ZHANG, ZHIHUI; ZHAO, LEI
To: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 040160/0959 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180119520A1 · May 3, 2018